A familiar face has joined the residents at an East Devon residential home.

Community stalwart Monty Elliott is well known for his contributions to the Britain In Bloom competition, his support for East Budleigh Tennis Club … and his impressive scarecrows!

Monty, who is 95, and was born and bred in East Budleigh, has been a regular participant in - and winner of - the village’s famous scarecrow competition.
This year’s event, which is organised by the Friends of All Saints Church, was cancelled due to Covid but several scarecrows still popped up at select locations.

True to form Monty, who has recently moved into the Firs Residential Home in West Hill, Budleigh Salterton, provided one of them.

This year he paid tribute to Sir Tom Moore, the 100-year-old, who raised almost £33m for NHS charities by walking laps of his garden, and the creation has been on display at the church for all to see

In previous years, the annual event has seen the streets lined by straw-filled lookalikes inspired by local and national events.

Residents have immortalised celebrities such as Donald Trump and David Bowie, while others have been inspired by historical figures such as Sir Walter Raleigh.

Nikki Shayler, home manager at The Firs, said: “We are so pleased to have been able to help Monty to continue to be a part of the community of which he has been a part of for so many years. We have a 'Wishing Tree' at the home where we help make residents' wishes come true and this was Monty's wish.”